Threadless drill pipe



Sept. 30, 1941. A. BoYNToN THREADLESS DRILL PIPE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 30, 1939 e 1 -g v 2662 2 :MASI .-.u M Hvlbnwn 0 l 3 223 |2322 l 3 3 2 Sept. 30, 1941. A. BoYNToN THREADLESS DRILL PIPE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 30, 1939 IAh .ula- 1 Illlll.- IIIIIII Patented Sept. 30, 1941 UNITED STATES 'PATENT OFFICEv THBEADLESS DRILL PIPE 4Alexander Boynton, San Antonio, Tex.

Application June 30, 1939, Serial No. 282,163

6 Claims.

My invention relates to drill pipe and means for connecting the joints together.

The principal object is vto provide a connection means which will neither make up nor unscrew, regardless of the direction of rotation.

Another object is to provide connection means enabling the joints to be more quickly put together or taken apart than can be done withV means now used.

Another object is to provide greater strength in the connections than can be accomplished with threads.

'A further object is to distribute the stresses so as to greatly reduce crystallization `of the metal in the connections.

The foregoing objects are accomplished by means of male and female coupling members, one member having helical keys adapted to register with helical slots of the other member. 'I'he female coupling member, in turn, has helical keys adapted to register with helical slots Within an outer sleeve attached to and rotatable upon the male coupling member. Both sets of helical keys being engaged, the engagement is secured by a lock ring which is, in turn, secured by a snap ring; all of which will clearly appeal" from this specication and the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in

whichf v Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section through the preferred embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a cross section on the line 22, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a cross section on the line 3-3, Fig. l. Fig. 4 is an outside view of the lower extremity of the upper coupling inlig. 1.

Fig. 5 is an isometric view of the snap ring in Fig. 1. j

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal section of the lock ring in Fig. 1.

Fig. 7 is a partial outside view and partial longitudinal section through the sleeve in Fig. 1.

Fig. 8 is a partial outside view and partial longitudinal section of the lower coupling in Fis. l.

Fig. 9, isa longitudinal section'of a modiiied form oi.' the invention, with the upper coupling, shown partially in outside view and partly broken away.

Fig. 10 is a cross-section on the line III-I0, Fig. 9.

Fig. 11 is a cross section on the line II-II, Fig. 9.

Fig. 12 is a longitudinal section through another modification or the invention, with the upper coupling shown partially in outside view and partly broken away and the lower coupling partially in outside view.

Fig. 13 is a cross section on the line I3-I3,

Fig. 12.

Fig. 14 is a longitudinal section through the sleeve in Fig. 1-2.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

With particular referenceto Fig. 1, the upper coupling member I has external helical slots Ib yforming the keys Ia, Fig. 4, adapted to be received within the internal helical slots 2b', forming the keys 2a', Fig. 8.

The sleeve 3, Fig. 7, having threaded engagement over the member I, has internal helical slots-3b forming the keys 3a adapted to be received within the external helical slots 2b forming the keys 2a, Fig. 8.

The lower extremity of the upper coupling member I, below the keys Ia, formed into a tubular portion` Ig, having a smooth exterior surface closely slidable within the central bore below the keys 2a' of the member 2.

The U cups 6 and .6 received within the an- I nular recesses 2g and 2g', respectively (see Fig. 8), are adapted to prevent leakage of well uid into or out of the drill pipe. The upper cup 6, looking upward, is adapted to expand and prevent, well fluid from entering the drill pipe through the slight clearance between the keys and slots. The lower U cup 6', looking downward, is adapted to expand and prevent the leakage of fluid out of the drill pipe, as is apparent in Fig. 1. Manifestly, these U cups should be formed of some tough, pliable sub stance, such as leather or fabric. It is also ap parent that anyother suitable form of packing may be employed.

Preferably there should be slight clearance, such as the thickness of a penny, between the external shoulder '2e, and the lower extremity of the member 3, in order that the annular shoulder Ie may land securely upon the upper end of the member 2. This slight clearance will always indicate that the sleeve 3 is in the correct position for the snap ring 5 to be closely received around the member I, between'the external shoulder If and the .upper end of the lock ring 4, when this ring, having threaded en-.

the member I, having a lower tubular extension Ig slidable through the U cups and within the central bore through the member 2, is inserted within the member 2. Before being so inserted, the sleeve 3 and the lock ring 4 are threadedly engaged over the member I andpositioned approximately one-fifth of a turn upward from their position in Fig. 1. It is assumed, for illustration, that the helical keys 3a are all of the same length and pitch and that they each incline a distance equal to approximately onefth the circumference of the sleeve 3.

The bevels I c of the keys Ia and the bevels 2c of the keys 2a' provided a sharp wedge end for each of these keys in order to facilitate assembling by preventing the keys from impinging upon their proximate ends immediately before these keys engage. Likewise, the bevels 2c of the keys 2a and 3c of the keys 3a -prevent these keys from impinging upon their proximate ends. The bevels Ih in Fig. 1; Id, Fig. .4; 2h, 2d, and

. 2d', Fig. 8; and 3e and 3d, Fig. 7; further facilitate assembling by avoiding extreme accuracy in stabbing the parts.

It will be noted that the external keys 2a eX- tend to the upper end of the member 2 while the internal keys 2a have the counterbore 2f above them. This counterbore provides that the external keys 2a will begin to engage between their mating keys 3a before the keys Ia and 2a' begin to mate.

It will be observed that the inner sets of mating keys Ia and 2a are inclined atthe same pitch in one direction; while the outer set oi' mating keys 2a and 3a are inclined at the same angle in the opposite direction'.

Manifestly, the mating keys must incline at the same angle, but the two sets o f mating keys need not necessarily incline at the same angle. That is to say, the keys Ia and 2a' must incline at the same angle, while the keys 2a and 3a may incline at a diiferent angle from that of the keys Ia and 2a.

The member 2 is assumed to be held stationary while the members I and 3, assembled as stated, are let down upon it. During the engaging-operation, the member I and one or more attached joints of the drill pipe 'I will rotate to engage the helical 'keys Ia within the helical slots 2b',

between the helical keys 2a'; while the sleeve 3,

at the same time, will rotate in the opposite direction to engage its helical keys 3a between the helical keys 2a. During thisrotation, equivalent to approximately one-fifth of a turn (that being the assumed pitch of the keys), the sleeve 3, of

course, will return to the position shown in Fig. 1. The lock ring 4 then may be rotated into engagement with the sleeve 3, and the snap ring` 5 placed in the recess between the shoulder If and the ring 4. The snap ring, having only slight clearance, such as two or three thousandths inch between the shoulder If and the lock ring 4, will prevent the lock ring from becoming loosened and backing away from the sleeve 3, due to the vibration of the drill stem in service.

It will be observed that the snap ring has two bevels of equal pitch, the inner bevel 5b being for engagement with a special toolfor placing and removing it. The outer bevel 5a is much longer than the inner one in order that the friction and pressure of mud engaging with' the ring during rotation of the drill stem will act more to compress the ring, and thereby keep it in place, rather than to expand it.

It is apparent that the lock ring 4' may be in order that the snap ring will have proper di-v mensions for convenient manipulation.

To take the device apart, remove the snap ring 5, and, for convenience, leave it gripped around the member I proximately above the shoulder If, back up the lock ring 4, and raise the member I which will reverse the assembling movements previously described.

It will be noted that the assembling and taking apart operations each may be made almost instantaneous, because the sleeve 31s automatic in its rotation to engage or disengage the keys v2a and 3a; while a slight turn of the lock ring 4 will secure the assembly or provide for its disconnection, as the case may be.

By means of aspecial tool, the snaplring may be almost instantly moved up above the shoulder If, fromv which upper position, around the member I, it maybe pressed downward to assume the position shown in Fig. 1.

The modication illustrated in Figs. 9 to-11 is similar to the construction illustrated in Fig. 1, which it duplicates part for part, except that the parts 4A, 5A, 6A, and 6A' .are identical in construction and purpose with the parts 4, 5,A

6, and 6.,'respectively, in Fig. 1, but their position in the assembly is somewhat diterent.

The upper coupling member IA has a double set of outside helical keys. The lower set IAa'. having guide slopes IAc and IAd', is adapted to be closely engaged between the helical keys 2Aa, having guide slopes 2Ac and 2Ad of the lower coupling member 2A; and the upper set IAa formed between the helical slots IAb, having guide slopes IAc vand IAd, isv adapted to be engaged Within the helical slots 3Ab between the helical keys 3Aa, having guide slopes 3Ac and 3Ad, of the sleeve 3A, which has threaded engagementjover the member 2A.

The upper drill pipe joint 1 may have threaded connection with the .upper member IA which engagement is secured by the weld la,l andthe lower member 2A may have threaded engagement with the lower drill pipe joint I and further secured by the weld 1a'.

Before assembling the device as shown in Fig. 9, it will be assumed that the lower member 2A is held stationary. 'I'he U cups 6A and 6A' being in place within the member 2A and in contact with the tubular extension IAg of the member IA, slidable within the central bore of the member 2A, as shown; the snap ring 5A being engaged around the member 2A just below the shoulder 2Ac, and the lock ring 4A and the sleeve 3A being sufiiciently rotated upon their mating threads in the -directionof the shoulder 2Ac from the position shown in Fig. 9; then, to assemble as in Fig. 9, insert the member IA until the -annular external shoulder IAf engages upon the upper end of 'the member 2A.

The helical keys IAa' then will be engaged with their mating keys 2Aa (see Fig. 10), and the vhelical keys IAa will be engaged, at the same i 9, there should be slight clearance between the lower shoulder IAf and the upper'end of the member 2A,' in order that the external shoulder helical vstop the downward travel of the member sembled members IB and IAe may be then engaged upon the upper end of the member 3A.

While the keys are engaging, the member IA will rotate approximately one-111th of a turn in one direction, while the sleeve 3A will rotate in the opposite direction, it being assumed that the pitch of the keys 3Aa is such-as will cause the sleeve 3A to rotate approximately one-fth of a turn while its keys are mating.

'I'he sleeve 3A, being now turned back to the position shown inY Fig. 9 by the keys IAa in the act of assembling, the lock ring 4A may be tightened upon it and the snap ring 5A pushed upward until it snaps into the annular recess between the lock ring and the shoulder 2Ae.

As stated in connection with Fig. 1, the lock ring IA may be omitted and the assembly secured by the snap ring 5A only.

In Fig. 12, the parts 4B, 5B, BB, and 6B' are the same in construction and purpose as the corresponding parts IA, 5A, 6A, and 6A' vin Fig. 9, the tubular extension IBg being slidable through the U cups and within the central bore through the lower portion or the member 2B.

The helical keys IBa, having the end guide bevels and slopes IBc and IBd, are adapted to engage with their mating helical keys 2Ba', having the end guide slopes and bevels 2Bc' and 2Bd; and the helical slots 3Bb forming the keys 3Ba, having the end guide slopes and bevels 3Bc and 3Bd, Fig. 14, are adapted to engage their mating helical keys 2Ba, having the end guide slopes and bevels 2Bc and ZBd, Fig. 12.

The member 3 has an internal annular recess 3Bf, Fig. 14, which closely receives the stop ring halves 8 and 8o. After the sleeve 3B is threadedly connected over the member IB until it engages upon the external shoulder IBf, the stop ring halves 8 and 8a may be then pushed into place through the slots 3Be (see Fig. 13).

The member IB has a small recess IBe turned off above its external threads. This recess is adapted to receive the ring halves 8 and 8a to 3B away from the shoulder IBf.

Before beginning the assembly, it will be as.

sumed that the lower coupling member 2B is held stationary. The snap ring 5B is assumed to be engaged around the member 2B proximately below the shoulder 2Be. 'Ihe lock ring 4B is assumed to be slightly downward from its position in Fig. 12. The sleeve 3B is assumed to be somewhat downward from the shoulder IBf with the stop ring halves 8 and 8a engaged upon the slight shoulder forming the lower end of the recess IBe, and the keys 3Ba are assumed to have a pitch adapted to impart approximately one-fifth of a turn to the member 3B.

Now, to form the connection, lower the as- 3B to the position shown in Fig. 12, until the shoulder IBf lands upon the upper end. of the member 3B. The lock ring 4B then will be turned upward into engagement with the sleeve 3B, andthe snap ring 5B will be pushed upward until it snaps into the recess between the lock ring 4B and the shoulder 2Be.

The counterbore 2Bf above the keys 2B@ provides that the outer sets of keys will begin to mate sooner than the inner sets. Manifestly, either of the two sets of keys should begin to mate before the other set begins to mate, in order to divide the tendency of the keys to 1mpinge upon their proximate ends all at one time, as they would tend to do if both sets of keys should begin mating at once.

It is apparent in all iorms of the invention that the connection provides that the drill stem may be rotated clockwise or anti-clockwise without danger 'of becoming disconnected, and that keys of relatively small cross-sectional dimensions can be made of proper length to enable the drill stem to be twisted of! o r pulled in two withoutbreaking the connection shown.

' The drill pipe 1 and 1' may be threadedly joined to the'upper and lower members of the device and further secured by the welds la and 1a or the proximate upsetextremities of the drill pipe may be fabricated into the upper and lower members.

In ali forms of the invention, it will be observed that, in taking the device apart, the outer set of helical keys becomes dis-engaged while being rotated by the force that lifts the upper coupling member, and that in assembling the device, these keys become engaged when they are rotated in the opposite direction by the weight of the one or more joints of drill pipe above the upper coupling member when it is set down upon the lower one.

The scope and purpose of this invention as I illustrated and described, is not intended to be limited to the drawings which will be understood as being diagrammatic only and set out by way of example to explain and clarify the stated objects and appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A pipe connection of the character described .comprising male and female members having complementary inclined keys to engage when the members are in interiltting relation, additional keys on one of s'aid members, said additional keys being inclined oppositely to the first keys onl said one member, a sleeve threaded throughout a portion of its length and threadably mounted upon the other of said members,

said sleeve having keys on the unthreaded por` tion complementary to the additional keys, and means for locking said sleeve against rotation after the members are brought into intertting relation.

2. A pipe connection of the character described comprising maleA and female, pipe ends having complementary inclined keys to engage when the ends are in intertting relation, said male end having exterior threads thereon a sleeve mounted upon said threads on the male end, complementary inclined keys upon the female end and the interior of said sleeve, the keys oi said pairs of complementary keys being oppositely inclined, means for locking said sleeve against movement, said last mentioned means comprising a lock ring threaded to engage said exterior threads on the male end so that the.

lock ring is brought into engagement with the sleeve after the pipe ends are in interiitting relation.

of the female end and the interior of the sleeve,

the keys of said pairs of complementary keys being oppositely inclined, a shoulder on the male end in spaced relation with the sleeve and a snap 10 ring within the groove formed by the shoulder and the end of the sleeve.

5. A pipe connection oi' thecharacter described comprising male and female pipe ends having complementary inclined keys to engage when the ends are in intertltting relation, a sleeve threadably mounted upon the male end, complementary inclined keys upon the exterior of the female end and the interior of the sleeve,

the keys oi said vpairs of complementary keys being oppositely inclined, a lock ring threadably mounted on the male end, a shoulder on the male end in spaced relation with the lock ring. and a snap ring within the groove formed by the shoulder and the end of the lock ring.

6. A pipe connection comprising male and female members having complementary inclined keys in engagement, a sleeve threaded interiorly throughout a portion of 4its length and threadably mounted upon and extending outwardly from the female member, said sleeve having inclined keys Ion the inner surface thereof outwardly of said threaded portion, additional keys on the male memberengaging the interior keys of the sleeve. and means for locking the sleeve against movemen-t, after the members are intert.

ALEXANDER norm-0N. 

